Donation Request Letters

Sending out a donation request letter is a great way to increase fundraising from your supporters. Check out our templates to help you get started.

How To Write a Donation Request Letter

If you help run a charitable or cause-based organization, you’ve likely sent out a donation request letter before. Donation request letters are nonprofit fundraising letters to be sent out to individuals or other organizations, like local businesses. While these letters can be sent out at any time of the year, they are particularly effective during the holiday season in November and December, when people are feeling more charitable.

Donation request letters can be sent on their own, but some organizations also include additional information such as pamphlets or booklets. This can help your potential donor learn a little bit more about your organization and see if their ideals line up with your cause. These letters give you a chance to formally ask for donations and provide a space to clearly outline your needs and explain how a donation will benefit your mission.

Whether you’re a nonprofit organization, a school, or a church, you can send donation request letters whenever you need a little extra help fundraising for a project or if you’re in need of specific resources and supplies for an event.

Though many different types of organizations send out donation request letters seeking different types of support, the main elements in each letter tend to stay consistent.

3 key elements of any good donation request letter

What should you always include in your donation request letter? Think of this as your checklist, so make sure you have them all:

• Emotional appeal. Pull in your donors with an emotional story outlining your organization’s mission and what you’ve accomplished so far. Talk about how your organization has impacted constituents in a positive way. Whether you’re a nonprofit or you help run a faith-based organization, donors will want to know how you’ve been helping your surrounding community.

• How the donor can help solve the problem. Make sure to explain to your donors how their specific donation will contribute to your cause. Give examples of the specific, physical impact the donation will have.

• Donation information and details. Don’t forget to include information on how to send a donation, as well as details for further communication. Always provide a way for the donor to ask questions or request additional information.

Use these 3 key elements to guide your drafts as you write your donation request letters. For more specific templates, click below depending on what kind of organization you are.

Formatting your donation request letter

While the content of your letter is most important, the format and overall design can make a major difference in someone’s decision to donate.

An overloaded or otherwise unreadable donation letter will quickly turn prospective donors away, so take the time to put it into an attractive format. Here are some of the essential design elements you’ll want to consider when creating your letter:

• Letterhead: Include your nonprofit’s name, contact information, and branded logo.
• Graphics: While you might like the simplicity of a traditional black-and-white letter, images can elevate your fundraising appeals. You might include images of beneficiaries and artistic graphics.
• Typography: Choose one easily readable font and font sizes that are large enough.
• Colors: Stick to black ink. If you want to incorporate colors, choose ones that fit your brand guidelines and have enough contrast against your background.
• Envelope: While not technically part of the letter, the envelope is crucial since it’s the first impression prospects will have of your letter. Leveling up your envelopes could be as simple as including your organization’s logo in the corner or printing the text in your official brand colors.

Putting thought into your design will result in a more professional letter that inspires donors to actually read it. In any case, remember that the heart of your fundraising letter is the appeal. Because of that, you don’t want to overpower your text with an overloaded design and vice versa.

If you’re struggling with putting your letter into a compelling format, consider reaching out to a graphic designer to help. Those with experience designing letters, like Kwala, will know how to strike the perfect balance between text and graphics. That way, you can focus on perfecting the appeal itself while an expert graphic designer puts it into an appealing format that catches prospective donors’ eyes.

Take a look at this example donation request letter that Kwala’s team created:

The text and graphics complement one another rather than compete with one another. The result is a professional, sleek design that keeps the recipient reeled into the message.